Kayce

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAY-see /ˈkeɪ.si/High

Meaning: A creative spelling variant of Casey, from the Irish Gaelic Cathasach, meaning 'vigilant' or 'alert in battle'. The Kayce spelling is a modern American phonetic variant.Medium

In 30 seconds: Kayce is a bold modern spelling of Casey, meaning 'vigilant in battle' from Irish Gaelic. Made notable by the rugged rancher character Kayce Dutton on the hit television series Yellowstone.

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Origin MediumIrish Gaelic, American English

MeaningA creative spelling variant of Casey, from the Irish Gaelic Cathasach, meaning 'vigilant' or 'alert in battle'. The Kayce spelling is a modern American phonetic variant.

U.S. rank (2025)#375 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births843 boys (0.05% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,311

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Kayce is a spelling variant of Casey, which derives from the Irish Gaelic surname O Cathasaigh, meaning 'descendant of Cathasach' — a personal name conveying vigilance or alertness in battle. The standard spelling Casey has been in use since the nineteenth century. Kayce is a modern American phonetic respelling that adds visual distinctiveness while preserving the same pronunciation.

Kayce gained significant cultural traction through the television series Yellowstone (2018–present), in which Kayce Dutton is a central character — a Navy SEAL veteran and rancher's son navigating loyalty between his Native American wife's family and his powerful father's ranch empire. The show's massive popularity drove Kayce into US birth records, making it a name strongly associated with modern Western American identity.

Did you know? Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes in the Paramount Network series Yellowstone (2018–present), is one of the most prominent bearers of this spelling — and the series' massive ratings have driven Kayce into US birth records as a masculine name with frontier-Western associations.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name: Casey — Irish Gaelic etymology shared by Casey and all its spelling variantsSocial Security Administration Name Data — US appearance frequency for Kayce

Variations

CaseyKaseyKC

Nicknames

KayKC

Famous Bearers

★Kayce Dutton (fictional) (2018–)
Central character of the Paramount Network series Yellowstone, played by Luke Grimes, driving the name into US birth records.

If you like Kayce…

Casey— the standard spelling of the same name with identical pronunciation and Irish Gaelic origin

Kasen— modern American phonetic name with the same Kas- opening and contemporary naming style

Blaze— one or two-syllable modern American masculine name with the same Western frontier energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kayce mean?

Kayce means 'vigilant in battle', as a spelling variant of Casey from Irish Gaelic Cathasach.

How do you pronounce Kayce?

Kayce is pronounced KAY-see (/ˈkeɪ.si/), two syllables with stress on the first — identical to Casey.

Is Kayce a boy or girl name?

Kayce is used predominantly as a boy's name, strongly associated with the Yellowstone character.

How popular is Kayce?

Kayce entered US birth records in the 2010s and has grown since the Yellowstone television series began in 2018.